Electrical connector



May 1,2, 1970 1K. cmi-RON v3,512,119

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed sept. 2o, 196e `N"" :u QD I n m E E m Lr,

United States Patent C) Us. ci. 339-90 s claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector including a receptacle and a plug, yboth having hollow shells surrounding an insulating insert carrying corresponding contacts which interconnect when the receptacle and plug are joined. The connector includes a couplingy ring surrounding the shell to releasably connect the receptacle and plug together, with a resilient spring washer interposed between the coupling ring and one of the shells, to provide more effective and uniform sealing between the parts, and wherein limiting shoulders are provided on the coupling ring and said one of the shells, which provide a positive stop means limiting movement of the ring `and that shell to an extent less than the range of safe deflection of the resilient means, with the advantage of providing positive captivation between those elements and, eliminating overstressing of the resilient spring Washer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional View of an electrical connector made according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a detailed developed view taken at line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, the electrical connector including the feature of the present invention is indicated in its entirety at and includes a receptacle 12, a plug 14 and a coupling ring 16.

The receptacle 12 includes a shell 18 lwhich may have a flange 20 for mounting it on a panel and a terminal end surface 21, while the plug 14 includes a shell 22, the coupling ring 16 acting through the shells in securing the connector parts together. Y

The internal elements of the connector parts do not, for the most part, enter into the features of the present invention, except as referred to as specifically hereinbelow. The connector parts include grommets 24 having apertures receiving the contacts of the cable to which the connector parts are attached, these contacts including pin contacts 26 in the receptacle 12 and socket contacts 28 inthe plug 14. These contacts extend through holes in the grommets 24 and through holes in hard dielectric inserts 30 and 32. The grommets in the inserts may be connected together by suitable retainer sleeves 34 having engagement with the shells as indicated at 36. The contacts 26 and 28 are secured in the dielectric inserts by suitable snap-in contact retention clips 38. A center seal 40 may be provided between the dielectric inserts 30, 32.

The pin contacts 26 have terminal pin elements 42 which in the present instance terminate forwardly adjacent the end of the dielectric insert 30. The socket inserts 28 have socket elements 44 which extend `beyond the corresponding dielectric insert 32 and when the connector parts are connected, they extend into the apertures 46 in the dielectric inserts 30 and receive the pin elements 42 in telescoping relation throughout a range of substantial axial extent, this dimension ibeing referred to again hereinbelow. The electrical contact engagement between the contacts 26, 28 is established through the pin elements 42 and ICC socket elements 44, these elements being appropriately dimensioned for that purpose.

interposed between the shells is an O-ring 48 fitted in `an annular groove 50 in the shell 18 and, when the connector parts are connected, surrounding the terminal end element 52 of the shell 22 in sealing engagement therewith. The O-ring as shown in FIG. 1 engages the shells throughout a substantial axial extent, this dimension also being referred to again hereinbelow.

The coupling ring 16 normally remains mounted on the plug 14 and has bayonet type, releasable connectionwith the receptacle 12. The connection elements include radial projections 54 on the shell 18, distributed therearound and defining shoulders 56 of substantial total circumferential extent. The coupling ring 16 includes internal grooves 58 receiving the projections 54 and having shoulders 60 engageable with the shoulders 56.

The coupling ring 16 at its other end encircling the plug 14 has an internal groove 62 having a shoulder 64, in which is fitted a yieldable and resilient means 66 which is in the form of a spring wave washer of corrugated spring steel capable of yielding axially of the connector and biasing the engaged parts axially in separating direction. The specific dimensions of this member may be as desired but it has substantial dimension axially.

The resilient spring member 66 is confined between the shoulder 64 and a retainer ring 68 fitted in an external groove 70 in the shell 22, this retainer ring also extending into the groove 62. The groove 62 is defined at its opposite end by a radially inwardly extending rib 72 defining a shoulder 74. This rib 72 faces another rib 76 formed externally on the shell 22 and defining a shoulder 78. The end of the shell forms a shoulder 79.

ln connecting the connector parts, they are fitted together and the connecting ring 16, on the plug 14, is connected with the receptacle in the usual way through the bayonet type connection referred to. In turning up the connecting ring in the connecting operation, forces are exerted through the shoulders 56, 60, working the connecting ring in direction toward the receptacle, thereby compressing the resilient means 66. The normal extended dimension of the resilient means 66, is such, in relation to the dimensions and proportions of other elements, that when the connector partsare connected as described, the resilient means is compressed to an axial dimension less than its maximum dimension whereby it maintains a constant biasing force between the connector parts to maintain those connector parts in snug connected condition. This yieldable and resilient means, acting between the shoulder 64 and the retainer ring 68, biases the connecting ring 16 in corresponding direction (to the right, FIG. 1) whereby the receptacle 12 is pulled up through force exerted at the shoulders 56, 60 on the receptacle 12, and the end surface 21 of the shell firmly engages the end surface or shoulder 79 on the plug shell 22.

The spacing between the opposed shoulders 74, 78 as indicated at 80 is always less than the spacing 82 which represents the axial dimension of the spring 66 in any condition of compression of the spring. Actually, the spacing 80 is always appreciably less than the spacing 82 and in fact less than the axial movement which would cause overloading or overstressing of the spring. As a consequence, if the coupling ring 16 should be moved in uncoupling direction (to the left, FIG. l) against the biasing effect of the spring, the shoulders 74, 78 would engage before the danger point of the spring would be reached, these shoulders providing positive limiting means against further movement of the coupling ring as mentioned. Thus the spring 66 will always remain in full effect for biasing the connector parts in connecting direction.

Patented May 12, 1970 f The space 80 representing the maximum possible disconnecting movement of the parts is also considerably less than the telescoping relation between the contact elements 42 and 46 so that in the event that maximum movement in `disconnecting direction should be reached, i.e., the shoulders 74, 78 engaged, the goo-d contact engagement between those contact elements will remain, Also the spacing 80 is less than the axial extent of the engagement by the O-ring 48 with both shells so that again, if the shoulders 74, 78 should engage, perfect sealing effect will be maintained by the O-ring 48.

The shoulders 74 and 78 extend entirely around the connector whereby to maintain perfect alignment and good connection 4between the connector parts, if these shoulders should come into interengagement.

Because of the spring 66 only low connecting and disconnecting torque is required, while it also provides uniform torque and even engagement between the engaged parts in the connecting action.

While I have herein disclosed a preferred form of the invention it will be understood that changes may be made therein Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector construction comprising a receptacle and a plug, each having a hollow shell surrounding and supporting an insulating insert carrying at least one electrical contact therein, with each contact in electrical engagement with a corresponding contact carried in the other insert, a coupling ring surrounding adjacent portions of the shells and having connecting engagement with both the shells to draw the insulating inserts therein toward each other and to hold the contacts therein in engagement; resilient means interposed Ibetween the coupling ring and one of the shells and having a predetermined range of deliection axially of the connector without impairing its resilience characteristics, and positive stop means on the coupling ring and said one shell limiting movement therebetween in separating direction an extent less than said range.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the stop means are of substantial peripheral extent whereby to maintain accurate alignment between the connected parts when those stop means are interengaged.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle and plug have respective contacts interengaging when the parts are connected throughout an axial extent substantially greater than the maximum spacing between said positive stop means.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said shells have telescoping portions, sealing means is provided between the telescoping surfaces of these portions of the shells, and the sealing means provides sealing effect throughout an axial extent substantially greater than the maximum spacing between said positive stop means. 5 5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the coupling ring is mounted on the plug and a bayonet type releaseable connection is provided between the coupling ring and the receptacle, said coupling ring is provided with an internal peripheral groove adjacent itsinner end removed from the terminal end of the plug, said groove having a shoulder facing toward the terminal `end of the plug, the resilient means includes a corrugated spring ring in said groove, the shell of the plug having an external peripheral groove, a retainer ring in said external groove, said spring ring being confined between said shoulder and said retainer ring, said shell of the plug having an external peripheral bead spaced from said retainer ring in the direction of the terminal end of the plug and defining a shoulder facing inwardly from said outer end, the coupling ring having a radially inwardly directed peripheral bead having a shoulder facing toward the terminal end of the plug and facing said shoulder on the bead of the plug shell, said coupling ring having limited axial movement relative to the plug and upon connection with the receptacle pursuant to the connecting movements of connecting the bayonet connection, the connecting rig moves axially along the plug toward the outer end of the latter, compressing said spring ring, and the parts having such dimensions and proportions that when the coupling ring is in fully coupled position, said shoulders on said `beads are spaced apart, but at a distance substantially less than the movement required for impairing the resilience characteristics of the spring ring.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner J. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner U.s. c1. XR. 

